Attendance and Tardies

"Attend today, Achieve tomorrow"

Regular school attendance is an important part of every student's academic success. Students who attend school regularly are much less likely to fall behind, especially on a block schedule like ours.

With that in mind, there are times when it becomes necessary for a student to miss school. When students miss school it can fall under two different categories, ACCEPTABLE or "excused" absences or UNACCEPTABLE or "unexcused" absences.
Students who are "excused" must be given an opportunity to complete work which is reasonably close to, but not necessarily identical to, missed work. The types of absences identified as "excused" include:

Personal illness (school may require a doctor's note and will require doctor's verification if school deems absences are excessive).

Quarantine under the direction of health officer

Personal medical appointment (may require doctor's note)

Funeral services of parent, sibling, grandparent, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, or any relative living in the child's immediate household (limit is one day in the state, and three days out of state)

Exclusion for medical reasons (not to exceed 5 school days)

Personal court appearance (requires verification)

Prior principal approval for employment conference

Observance of a religious holiday or ceremony (recommend three days advance notice to school)

Religious retreat (limited to four hours per semester)

He/She is the custodial parent of a child who is in or has a medical appointment during school hours (school may require a doctor's note and will require doctor's verification if school deems absences are excessive)

If the absence is "unexcused," the student is considered truant and make up work is at the discretion of the teacher. The following are examples of an "unexcused" absence:

Going to work with parent/guardian or other family member

Going to the beach, lake, river, mountains or desert

Going to a concert

Getting ready for a date

Babysitting, taking care of other family members

Under the influence of alcohol or other drugs

Joyriding or partying

Personal problems

Repairing car or household items

Waiting for service or repair people to come

Shopping

Camping

Attending a sporting event

Homelessness

Other reasons not included in the Education Code sections 46010 and 48206

Tardy Policy

Being tardy to class disrupts the instructional program. Students are expected to be in their classroom and seated before the tardy bell rings, with books and materials necessary for the class. Student need to understand the importance of not interrupting the other students in class, therefore maximizing instructional time. Student need to understand the standards of behavior expected in each class so that they accept the responsibility for their own actions. No restroom passes will be issued during the first fifteen minutes or last fifteen minutes of class. Teachers aree prepared to progressively work with students, parents, and if necessary, the administrative team for student violating the tardy policy.

Parents' wishing to excuse their student's tardy for a medical or dental reason must provide written proof to the Attendance Office from the Doctor. The written proof must include the date and time of appointment along with the Doctor's phone number in order for the "tardy" to be excused.

Occasionally, the school will conduct a Tardy Sweep to encourage students to arrive to class on time. Any student not in class when the bell rings is "swept" to the cafeteria and issued an after school dentention and a pass back to class. Tardy sweeps can occur before any class period including Period 1, Late Start Wednesdays, and at multiple times during any given school day.

How to Clear Absences

1. ABSENCES MUST BE CLEARED WITHIN SEVEN SCHOOL DAYS beginning on the day the student returns to school. Students who do not clear their absence(s) with the seven days will be considered truant from school. Unexcused absences will not be cleared after seven days from the absence.

Parents may send a note with their student to clear an absence. The note must include the following information:

Student's name

ID number

Date(s) of absence(s)

Reason for absence

Telephone number where parent/guardian may be reached for verification of absence

Parent/guardian signature

If absence is for doctor/dentist appointment, bring a note from doctor/dentist office with office phone number and appointment time

2. EXCESSIVE ABSENCES: Students with excessive absences or tardies will be reported to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) and may be required to provide verification of illness from a doctor.

3. If a student accrues more than ten absences (excused or unexcused) a doctor's note is required for every day thereafter. Failure to provide a doctor's note will result in a parent/student agreement to be put in place.